46 replies to this topic

[mbes2]

I only use my VX in the winter.

That's all year round then ;-)

[Rosssco]

 

I only use my VX in the winter.

That's all year round then ;-)

 

 

Cheek. The Scottish summer is one of the best days of the year..

[Claws]

 

I only use my VX in the winter.

That's all year round then ;-)  

  Cheek. The Scottish summer is one of the best days of the year..

[Robski]

 

 

I only use my VX in the winter.

That's all year round then ;-)

 

 

Cheek. The Scottish summer is one of the best days of the year..

 

 

Well done Rosssco Sir!

That made me laugh....a lot!

 

A few years ago I did a road trip in the VX up to Thurso / John O'Groats and then back down the west coast. It was mid / late September but the weather was amazing and I'll never forget some of those roads through stunning landscapes and in particular the wonderful purples, mauves and greens that made the landscapes so unforgettable!

 

I think I might have been very lucky with the weather!

[Thesportscarshop]

Thank you for the more intelligent responses(!) The compressor I have appeared to be the same as a Zafira one on the next engine, which was a lot less accessible. If the VX was my own I would change the cooling system to have a pair of rads in the back both to keep the heat behind the bulkhead and lose quite a few kilos of water, but its a client's car. Have been too busy to drop the engine in with the compressor, hopefully tomorrow I will find out wishbone invasion potential!

[fezzasus]

Thank you for the more intelligent responses(!) The compressor I have appeared to be the same as a Zafira one on the next engine, which was a lot less accessible. If the VX was my own I would change the cooling system to have a pair of rads in the back both to keep the heat behind the bulkhead and lose quite a few kilos of water, but its a client's car. Have been too busy to drop the engine in with the compressor, hopefully tomorrow I will find out wishbone invasion potential!

 

I'm glad I don't have you working on my car then.

 

Moving the cooling system to the rear would save about 4 kg in weight from the water, however the car is rear heavy anyway and would place more weight over the back in the dual radiators. It would also compete for space with the air intake and charge cooler on the turbo. Not to mention that VX220s already struggle with engine compartment temperature levels (hence the reason all of them have an oil cooler).

[Thesportscarshop]

 

Thank you for the more intelligent responses(!) The compressor I have appeared to be the same as a Zafira one on the next engine, which was a lot less accessible. If the VX was my own I would change the cooling system to have a pair of rads in the back both to keep the heat behind the bulkhead and lose quite a few kilos of water, but its a client's car. Have been too busy to drop the engine in with the compressor, hopefully tomorrow I will find out wishbone invasion potential!

  I'm glad I don't have you working on my car then.   Moving the cooling system to the rear would save about 4 kg in weight from the water, however the car is rear heavy anyway and would place more weight over the back in the dual radiators. It would also compete for space with the air intake and charge cooler on the turbo. Not to mention that VX220s already struggle with engine compartment temperature levels (hence the reason all of them have an oil cooler)

You misunderstand I think, and perhaps underestimate my experience. The reason that oil coolers are installed is to manage oil temperature, and with an oil/water exchanger like the VX's you can manage the temp both ways, and help the engine to warm it's oil, although the VX only starts the process with the thermostat open, which is a bit late. The exhaust system generates all the real heat in a mid engined car's engine bay. I didn't suggest moving the rads on a client's car, let alone a Turbo one. If the car were my own it would have no luggage compartment in the back but one in the front. The rear clam would be half the weight and flip rearwards. I'm pretty certain i could throw away the weight of the cooling system to the front and throw enough glass fibre away at the back to not raise the rear axle weight, having moved the rads to the side pods. The change in front-rear balance would be not so significant as to matter. There's also plenty of scope for some gorgeous air intakes on the rear clam buttresses

[Rosssco]

Yes, but you are talking about basically redesigning major components of the car..

 

Both clams are somewhat structural to absorb minor impacts, hence significant weight reduction could reduce their effectiveness. Fine if you are happy with that as a compromise.

 

The front still needs a crash box of some variety, therefore any luggage space would be highly compromised as far a usablity goes, especially as the battery and heater are there - you'd need to relocate to the rear also to make it worth while. And mounting the main engine radiator in the rear is of course feasible, but the VX220 engine compartment is already not amazing as far as air flow in / out is concerned (like most MR cars), so as noted, you'd need to make some serious modifications to the rear of the car to make it at least as efficient as with the current front radiator position. All to save a few kg's in piping and fluid..

[siztenboots]

the space behind the seats is useless, thats were I would try and package a better heater/cooler , and pass pipes through the bulkhead.

[Nev]

the space behind the seats is useless

Now that's true. I've been considering relocating my airbox there.

[Thesportscarshop]

 

the space behind the seats is useless, thats were I would try and package a better heater/cooler , and pass pipes through the bulkhead.

Something i'm doing to this one is to put the passenger seat on runners so that the space behind it can be used for luggage - theres a full height coat hanger space to be had there

[fezzasus]

 

You misunderstand I think, and perhaps underestimate my experience. 

 

Don't worry. I'm not. 

 

Personally I think you are underestimating the general forum's experience.

[fiveoclock]

The weight is over the front wheels for a reason

[Ormes]

the space behind the seats is useless

Now that's true. I've been considering relocating my airbox there.

1. You would be suffocated 2. You would be deaf

[Nev]

the space behind the seats is useless

Now that's true. I've been considering relocating my airbox there.

1. You would be suffocated 2. You would be deaf

Hmmmm, with the windows shut and the roof on I wonder how much the pressure in the cabin would drop at max revs? The engine uses a 9' x 9' x 8' cubic feet of air per minute (ie a small room), so maybe the cabin would become uninhabitable? Hard to know, though I think it might make my ears pop.

Edited by Nev, 10 October 2014 - 07:58 PM.

[Claws]

Only if you have the air intake taking air from the cabin. A sealed airbox drawing air from outside would obviously have no such issues.

[Cookies220]

 

I'm pretty certain i could throw away the weight of the cooling system to the front and throw enough glass fibre away at the back to not raise the rear axle weight, having moved the rads to the side pods. The change in front-rear balance would be not so significant as to matter. There's also plenty of scope for some gorgeous air intakes on the rear clam buttresses

 

 

If you put rads in the side pods, where will your air box and charge cooler be sited?

[Arno]

 

Something i'm doing to this one is to put the passenger seat on runners so that the space behind it can be used for luggage - theres a full height coat hanger space to be had there

 

 

Won't really work. Passenger compartiment on the VX is not divided symmetrically, so the passenger seat has less space around and (most importantly) in front of it.

 

Even if you found runners that would fit (examine the mounting hole locations.. you'll see the issue) then the forward and back movement of the seat will be only in the 1 inch range. Aka. pretty useless. Has been tried before.

 

Oh.. And as for A/C.. What are you intending to use for the evaporator location? The normal heater box won't work and as the battery is in the front you would have to use the S1 Exige unit which is about as effective at actual cooling as a tiny dwarf inside the dash blowing air at you through a straw.. And there's the issue that the VX dash does not have the front/face level vents and channels that the A/C equipped elises have.

 

Another option would be to buy a secondary A/C evaporator unit for the Middle-East versions of the S2 elises. That's mounted in the area behind the seats. That's pretty self-contained..

 

http://www.deroure.c...&SMO=0&ST=&SC=0

 

 

£699.54 ex VAT though..

 

Bye, Arno.

[Thesportscarshop]

 

The weight is over the front wheels for a reason

To say that is to suggest that a car needs to be heavier to handle better, not so. If the issue is balance - then the weight balance on a standard turbo VX is much worse than where any of my suggestions would take an NA. The VX also throws two major Lotus fundamental principles in the bin by having absurdly heavy wheels for no good reason other than styling.

[Bargi]

S1 Exige unit which is about as effective at actual cooling as a tiny dwarf inside the dash blowing air at you through a straw..